Travel Guide

Only an hour away from the mainland, Koh Ta Kiev is one of the closest islands to Sihanoukville and is on the itinerary of many of the day trips and island tours that leave from the beach town. Few people stay overnight on the island though, which is a shame because it's beautiful and has a few easily accessible beaches.

Like most of the islands in Cambodia, Koh Ta Kiev has been leased to a foreign company -- the same French outfit that owns, or has taken 99-year leases, on half of Koh Russei and parts of Ream National Park. They have ambitious plans for high-end resorts and boutique luxury hotels, although there's little sign of development from them apart from the beginnings of an inland road.
A second 99-year lease has been granted to a Chinese Malaysian firm who, according to media reports, plan to spend US$2-3 billion dollars "developing" the island. Going on photos supplied to us by Crusoe Island the company's idea of development isn't really in line with what we'd consider to be development. It looks like they're just trashing it actually -- residents suggest giving the island two years before it is finished.

Yes you will have to leave one day.

The shadow of “development” means there are just a few choices for accommodation, consisting of budget options Koh Ta Kiev Bungalows, Crusoe Island, Ten 103 Treehouse Bay and Coral Beach, all in relatively secluded calm on the west side of the island -- it's easy to walk between them. The owners of Ten 103 were finishing up a budget backpacker place at the time of writing, set to open in high season 2014, while they have further plans afoot for a more upscale hideaway, estimated to be ready for 2015. These guys must be very good chums with the navy, since building work is otherwise highly controlled and prohibited.

A swim? Must I?

Three lovely yellow-sand beaches shaded by pine trees are accessible on the island, and coral reefs make for excellent snorkelling. Crusoe Island is at the northernmost end of Long Beach, then Koh Ta Kiev and Ten 103 Bungalows, with Coral Beach at the southernmost, tucked around the corner from Ten 103 with its own secluded bay. It's possible to walk the entire stretch -- Coral Beach is accessed through the bar area of Ten 103. The pine needles make this long sandy stretch of sand seem less ‘pure' than it might otherwise feel, and the tide comes in high so it isn't all that wide either.

Trekking paths meander through the jungle if you're feeling adventurous and would like to do a bit of wildlife-spotting; we're told that the island is inhabited by carnivorous pitcher plants. Bird watchers will be happy to hear that more than 150 species call Koh Ta Kiev home. One path is identified by blue markers which takes you to the local fishing village on the east side, another by red markers which heads south from the centre of the island, leading you to Naked Beach on the south of the island.

For those who prefer to spend their beach time by the bar, Ten 103 has its own absinthe distillery, which daytrippers usually frequent.

Orientation
Phone service is accessible on the island through Metfone and Smart, but WiFi is blessedly not available, meaning you can really relax away from the outside world.

Related reading

Text and/or map last updated on 5th December, 2014.

Last reviewed by: Caroline Major
Caroline swapped the drizzle of Old Blighty for the dazzling sunshine of Siem Reap and she spends most weekends cycling the temple-studded terrain that she can call her backyard.

Koh Ta Kiev reviews

Backchat from the Travelfish community

Went for a day, stayed for two weeks!

me and my girlfriend went on a day trip to bamboo island and stopped at koh ta kiev for lunch. we walked down the beach and found a bunch of tents in the middle of nowhere! there was this random pirate party so we joined in and ended up leaving the boat and sleeping on the beach for the night! we thought it was just some people camping on the beach but there was a real campsite with a bar and everything! the owner liam said that he had only just finished building the place and showed us some really cool bungalows he was building.
we were staying in sihanoukville so we went back on liams boat after the party to get our things and came back out. we took a tent and camped on a little beach that looked out over some other islands. there was a really nice coral reef about 50 meters off the beach with lots of colorful fish and some really big ones too!
liam gave us some things for our camp and some hammocks and a grill so we made a fire on the beach to cook some food liams wife made for us. we only did that the first couple of nights though because liams wife cooks amazing food and lots of western comfort dishes as well. crazy good food for a campsite let alone one on an island!

we were going to go to phnom penh for a week but the island was so cheap we worked out that we could stay there for 2 weeks and do phnom penh for 2 days on the same budget! for the whole time we stayed on that little beach we had it all to ourselves. there were other people camping as well but we only saw them on the beach and at the bar. there were some really cool people at the bar and we heard some really amazing stories. one of the guys looked like a real castaway and was making absinthe on the island, and there was even a tame hornbill that lived in the bar and followed me around the camp!
liam had only just named the place crusoe island but now he has a website at www.crusoeisland.asia
this place was really amazing and we would never have found it if we didn't walk all the way down the beach. liam was a really good host and the campsite had everything we needed but was still so basic we felt like we really were stranded on a desert island! we are goin back next year on our way back home!!!!

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By Mufasa79 (1)
Written on 21st September, 2012 after a visit to Koh Ta Kiev in April, 2012

The best place in Sihanoukville

Ten 103 is an amazing place for those who want to get away from the crowds, trinket sellers, motorbikes, etc. perfect private beaches better than any fancy resort has. No shops,roads, electricity or running water, but I didn't miss any of that while there. It's the only quiet place to go in Sihanoukville, and after checking out the other islands, it's still the only place like it. The staff is the best and really look out for you. The sunsets are in perfect view from any of the treehouses or the couple of decks they have set up for eating and lounging. The treehouses are far enough apart for privacy, but not too far away from the rest of the goings-on and are right on the water. Super romantic. And then there's the food. Amazing tapas with cured fish, nice cheeses, dried meats, and all on some of the fresh bread that's made there everyday in a wood-fired oven. I had some fresh pasta as well that even a few of the Italian folks there were raving about. All the food was great and a good break from rice and noodle soup. The bread itself is great. Everything is made fresh right there, even the cocktails were good. Everything those guys do is ideal. There's plenty of great hiking, snorkeling, or even rafting! Glad I stayed more than one night in order to take full advantage of everything there. From what I understand, everyone wants to stay there longer than they intended... and now's the time, before the big resorts come and ruin one of the most perfect places I've ever been. Not easy to find the contacts to get there, but worth the effort x 10!!!! And worth every penny...

Sights & activities

History & culture

Scenery & environment

Eat & drink

Traveller's scene

Romance

Value for money

I'll be back (or not)

By JohannBC (1)
Written on 11th January, 2012 after a visit to Koh Ta Kiev in January, 2012